32 NFL Cuts That Should Happen

As free agency looms, teams will continue to make moves to free up cap space before the March 11th deadline, and with just about every team, there are cuts that still need to be made. Some of these cuts are because a player did not live up to his contract value, others are simply cap casualties brought by the market. Here are all 32 teams and the cuts they should make out of their top ten paid players.

Pro Football Focus grades each player at every position. Overthecap.com and spotrac.com provide cap information and where that player ranks among his position in salary. Amount of cap space created from the cut is the difference between the cap hit and dead money.

* indicates the team is likely not to make cuts among their top ten salaries and this player is simply the most likely.

Colledge arguably had his best year as a Cardinal in 2013, and he was the most consistent lineman of the bunch. He might be saved with his $4.6 million dead money hit, but the team could look to the draft to address the guard position and with the return of 2013 first round pick Jonathan Cooper, Colledge would definitely become expendable.

Keeping Rogers would make him one of the most overpaid cornerbacks in the league, and the potential $5.1 million in cap relief the 49ers gain by cutting him is too good to pass up. There are a number of quality defensive backs on the market as well as the draft so it will make this cut easy for the 49ers.

If the 49ers Rogers is one of the most overpaid cornerbacks in the league, Finnegan is themost overpaid cornerback. He has never been good since he arrived in St Louis, and it is one of the worst defensive signings the Rams have made. The Rams have plenty of cuts they could look at in their top ten salaries, but Finnegan should be the #1 target.

Seattle Seahawks

DE Chris Clemons – Cap hit $9.7 million, dead money $2.2 million

Pro Football Focus positional rank: 42nd of 52 ; Salary Cap Rank: 7th

Before cutting wide receiver Sidney Rice and defensive end Red Bryant, the Seahawks had $50.6 million tied up in five players at two positions, defensive end and wide receiver. The Seahawks will continue to trim their roster to increase the $17.8 million in cap room they have as of today. The team has indicated they have placed a priority on re-signing defensive end Michael Bennett, and they will clear cap room to make that happen.

Taylor, Woodley, and Levi all need to be cut. Taylor based on performance alone, he’s been terrible since 2010. Woodley was dominant at one time but hasn’t played a full season in two years. Time to actually make some bold moves.

Um, DeMeco Ryans had a pretty darn good season. I agree he’s getting paid a bit more then I would want but he’s a damn good player and great leader for an all around young defense. I hate to say it, but Trent Cole should be on this list ahead of Ryans

Trent Cole was one of the most dominant players at his position in 2013, plus cutting him would have only saved $1.8 million. I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think Ryans might be on the chopping block this year.

Dude are you a moron you just said he was the best player on the O-line but the Cards should cut him?! 7.3 Mil may be overpaid but 4.6 MIL IS DEAD MONEY so if they cut him they save 2Mil and change and lose their best player on the O-line and this team had one of the worst O-lines in the league last year. If you got all 7.3 Mil back sure cut him but to save 2 and change is retarded then added he’s the best player on the line.

Well, I don’t think I am a moron, and I am also a Cardinals fan. While I don’t want to see Colledge cut, if the Cardinals bring in another guard to start, Colledge will be a very expensive backup, which is why they could consider cutting him.

Thanks for pointing it out about KC/Colts. I did know that, but when I was writing it, was thinking about Toler getting burned so put in the wrong result. Appreciate the heads up and the piece has been updated!

Can you explain the Greg Olsen cut you suggested? That makes absolutely no sense. You expect the Panthers to cut their best receiving target for Cam in order to save $2 mil against the cap? He’s not Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski but Olsen is definitely one of the top 8 TEs in the league. I did read where you said no cuts for their top 10 players is likely, but if anything they will cut Steve Smith before cutting Olsen as the GM and Coach Rivera have both alluded to this offseason already.

I don’t think the Panthers will cut anyone in their top 10 salaries, but if they were Olsen makes the most sense. Steve Smith is currently upside down on his contract…the dead money penalty ($9 million) is currently more than his 2014 cap hit ($7 million). It’s rare for a team to eat a cut like that when the contract is structured like that. If they do cut Smith, it will be a move to cut savings on his future salaries.

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